Method and apparatus for applying flocking to an article



Get. 30, 1956 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLOCKING TO AN ARTICLEFiled June 18, 1953 O. W. SCHICK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Z Offo W. Schick 27 BY J g; QZMWM A TTORN VS.

Oct. 30, 1956 o. w. SCHICK 3 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLOCKINC:TO AN ARTICLE Filed June 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 45 40 INVENTOR. V 70H0 W. fic/u'ck.

f 4/ 42 J BY 5 I (g; )Mfl-M Unite Mnrrion AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYINGFLOCKING TO AN ARTICLE This invention relates to a method and apparatusfor applying flock to an article, and more particularly to a method andapparatus for imparting a static charge to the flocking material tocause the flock to adhere in a vertical position to the adhesive of anarticle which has been treated with an adhesive material.

The principal object of the present invention is to place an articlesuch as a card, article of clothing or the like, which has been treatedto provide an outline or image as desired with a paint, adhesive orother sticky surface, on an electrically operated vibrating table orjogging device, imparting a static charge to the flocking material anddepositing the same upon said card, article of clothing or the like in avertical position to obtain a compact mass of flock so that the image orarticle is covered to simulate a velvet material.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a housing for theflock having a screen or sieve therein and agitating the flock on saidscreen so as to impart a static charge thereto as it flows through thescreen; to provide an electrically operated jogging device in saidhousing below said screen having a table upon which the articles to beworked upon are placed to create a magnetc field by vibratory action ofthe jogging or vibrating machine to repel the flocking material as itpasses through said screen but still allow it to settle on the articleon the vibrating machine in a vertical position; to provide a jogging orvibrating device having a direct current magnet with a make and brakeset up creating a single direction field thereabove so that the flockingmaterial will be contacted thereby as it passes through the screen tothe articles to be worked upon; to provide a housing for the flockingmaterial; to provide a hopper for collecting the flocking material whichpasses over the vibrating table; to provide a blower for returning theflocking material from the hopper to the housing so that excess flockingpassing through the device may be returned thereto for use; and toprovide a device of this character of simple construction and economicalto operate.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided an improved structure, the preferred form of which isillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention with parts broken away toillustrate the interior thereof and particularly as the article beingworked upon is placed on the vibrating table.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2--2, Fig. 4 particularlyillustrating the screen in the housing containing the flocking and thereciprocating agitator.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the deviceparticularly illustrating the magnetic field created by the electricvibrator.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view particularly illustrating theblower for return of the excess flocking material from the hopper backto the cyclone separator #:tes atent and then to the housing for theflocking material for reuse.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates an apparatus for practicing the method of applying flock toan article such as a card, article of clothing or the like comprising ahousing 2 having sides 3, 4, 5 and 6 and a tapered bottom 7 mounted onlegs 8. The housing has a cover consisting of sloping sides 9, 1t), 11and 12 and terminating in a plane surface 13 provided with an opening 14in which is mounted a cyclone separator 15 for a purpose laterdescribed.

Mounted on the inside of the sides 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the housing arebrackets 16 and 17 upon which is mounted a screen or sieve 18 and formsa compartment 19 for flock 20 in the upper part of the housing. Anagitator 21 is provided for movement across the screen 18 and comprisesa rod like frame 22 having a plurality of cross rods 23 and an arm 24extending from one end of the agitator as best illustrated in Fig. 2.The side 5 of the housing is provided with an opening 25 through whichthe arm 24 extends. Mounted on the side 6 of the housing is a support 26for a motor 27 having a shaft 28 connected to gears in a gear box 29.Mounted on the side 5 of the housing are bearing brackets 30 forreceiving a shaft 31 having one end connected to the gears in the gearbox 29 and its other end provided with a cam 32 having an arm 33connecting with the arm 24 of the reciprocating agita tor 22 so that theagitator may be moved over the screen upon operation of the motor for apurpose later described.

Mounted on the frame 34 of the housing is a jogging device 35 having aplatform or table 36. The jogging apparatus includes a direct currentmagnet 37 having a core 38. The magnet is provided with a make and brakeset up as is the usual practice and the platform 36 is spring mountedupon the jogging apparatus. A metal plate is fastened opposite the coreof the magnet to the platform 36 as indicated at 39, electric currentbeing supplied to the magnet from the source of supply (not shown).

The tapered bottom 7 below the jogging apparatus provides a hopper forgathering of the excess flock which passes over the platform 36 into ahopper 46 which is provided with a throat 41 leading to a duct 42 havingconnection with a blower 43 operated by a motor 44. The duct 42 isprogressively larger as it extends upwardly along the side 6 of thehousing so that the air current will be reduced as it nears the enlargedend 45 and connects with the cyclone separator 15 as indicated at 46.The separator has an air outlet as indicated at 47.

The motor 44 operates the blower 43 through shaft 48 having a pulley 49on the end thereof and having connection with a pulley 50 on a shaft 51by a belt 52. The shaft 51 is connected to the blower 43 and also to ablower 53 of smaller capacity than the blower 43 mounted upon a base 54as best illustrated in Fig. 3. The blower 53 has tubes 54 and 55extending upwardly and are connected to tubular members 56 and 57 whichare secured to the sides 3 and 5 of the housing by brackets or the like58 or other suitable means.

The sides 3 and 5 of the housing have longitudinal openings 59 and 60,respectively, and extending along the lower edge of such openings areshelves 61 and 62 extending outwardly from the housing and the openingsprovide means for insertion of the article to be worked upon asindicated at 63 on the vibrating platform 36 and may be removed from theopposite opening in the housing if desired. The tubular members 56 and57 extending alongside the housing above the openings 59 and have slots64 along their lower edges and air from the blower 53 will prevent theflock from escaping through the openings 59 and 60 and tend to force thesame downwardly from above the platform 36 through the passageway 65 tothe hopper 40 provided by the sloping bottom 7 so that the flock willcontinue downwardly through the throat 41 and to the duct 42 to becarried by the force of the blower 43 through the duct to the cycloneseparator where it will fall downwardly to again enter the compartment19 for reuse.

An opening is provided in the tapered top 10 and is covered by a door 66so that the flock may be inserted therethrough to compartment 19 asdesired.

The method practiced by use of the apparatus as shown and described isthat by energizing the direct current magnet, a magnetic field will beset up as indicated by the dotted lines 67 (Fig. 3) and a static chargeis imparted to the flock particles in the compartment 19 by thereciprocating agitator 21 causing the same to fall through the screen orsieve 18. When it enters the magnetic field the poles of the respectivefibers or particles will be attracted by the opposite poles in the fieldcausing the particles to descend in a vertical position to contact theadhesive surface of the article 63 and through vibration of the platform36, the direct current magnet action will cause the particles to standon end on the surface of the article and provide a very thick, smoothfinish thereon.

Operation of apparatus constructed and assembled as described is asfollows:

The flock 26 may be placed in the compartment 19 and energizing of thedirect current magnet 37 will cause the table 32 to vibrate in avertical motion. Cards, articles of clothing, or other objects 63 to beworked upon are placed on the platform 36 and if desired may be held inplace thereon by thumb tacks, adhesive tape or the like (not shown).After energizing the electromagnet to create the vibratory action, themotor 27 is also energized to reciprocate the agitator 21 on the screen18 and a static charge will be imparted to the particles of flock asthey pass through the screen 18 and will fall onto the surface of thearticle to be worked upon as described. The excess flock will passthrough the passageway 65 between the platform 36 and the wall of thehousing and be returned to the compartment 19 by operation of the blower43 through duct 42 to the cyclone separator 15. Operation of the blower53 by the motor 44 will also repel the flock from escaping through theopenings 59 and 60 in the sides 3 and of the housing. The article 63 tobe worked upon is inserted through either of the openings 59 or 60 andmay be removed through the same opening or an operator may stand oneither side of the housing with one placing the article to be workedupon through one of the openings and removed through the oppositeopening by the other operator.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improvedmethod and apparatus for imparting static charge to flock by movement ofa reciprocating agitator over the screen and providing the magneticfield therebelow and above the workpiece so that the flock will beattracted to the workpiece in a vertical position and provide a verythick, smooth finish to the desired article as well as providing forpreserving the excess flock and returning it for reuse.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for applying flock to an article having an adhesive surfacecomprising, a housing having side walls, brackets ecured to said sidewalls, a screen mounted on said brackets in said housing providing acompartment for said flock, an agitator mounted on said screen, meansfor reciprocating said agitator on said screen for imparting an electrostatic charge to said flock as it passes through said screen, a table insaid housing below said screen upon which the article is placed to beworked upon, and magnetic means for vibrating said table, whereby thefibers of the flock will pass from the screen in a vertical position andwill attach in parallelism to said adhesive surface to provide a thicksmooth surface thereon.

2. Apparatus for applying flock to an article having an adhesive surfacecomprising, a housing having side walls, brackets secured to said sidewalls, a screen mounted on said brackets in said housing providing acompartment for said flock, an agitator mounted on said screen, meansfor reciprocating said agitator on said screen for imparting an electrostatic charge to said flock as it passes through said screen, a table insaid housing below said screen upon which the article is placed to beworked upon, means for vibrating said table including a magnet whereby amagnetic field is set up, the effect of the charged flock operating tocause the flock fibers to assume a vertical position as they attach tosaid adhesive surface to provide a thick smooth surface thereon, ahopper below said table for collecting excess flock falling from thetable, and means for returning said flock from the hopper to thecompartment for reuse.

3. Apparatus for applying flock to an article having an adhesive surfacecomprising, a housing having side walls, brackets secured to said sidewalls, a screen mounted on said brackets in said housing providing acompartment for said flock, an agitator mounted on said screen, meansfor reciprocating said agitator on said screen for imparting an electrostatic charge to said flock as it passes through said screen, a table insaid housing below said screen, said housing having openings in opposingsides thereof above said table for insertion of said article upon saidtable and for removal therefrom, magnetic means for vibrating said tablein a vertical and horizontal direction alternatively whereby a magneticfield is set up below said screen, said electro static charged fibers ofthe flock causing the opposite poles to be attracted to each otherto'cause the same to assume a vertical position as it attaches to saidadhesive surface to provide a thick smooth surface thereon, a hopperbelow said table for collecting excess flock falling from the table, andmeans for returning said flock from the hopper to the compartment forreuse.

4. Apparatus for applying flock to an article having an adhesive surfacecomprising, a housing having side walls, brackets secured to said sidewalls, a screen mounted on said brackets in said housing providing acompartment for said flock, an agitator mounted on said screen, meansfor reciprocating said agitator on said screen for imparting an electrostatic charge to said flock as it passes through said screen, a table insaid housing below said screen, said housing having openings in opposingsides thereof above said table for insertion of said articles on thetable and removal therefrom, and magnetic means for vibrating said tablein a vertical and horizontal direction alternatively whereby a magneticfield is set up below said screen, said magnetic field repelling saidflock as it falls through said screen whereby the fibers will attach tosaid adhesive surface perpendicular to the plane of the adhesive on thearticle to provide a thick smooth surface thereon, tubular memberssecured to the housing above said openings, said tubular members havingslots along their lower sides, a blower, tubes connecting said blower tosaid tubular members whereby air from the blower will prevent flockescaping from said openings, a hopper below said table for collectingexcess flock falling from the table, and means for returning said flockfrom the hopper to the compartment for reuse.

5. The method of applying flock particles to an article having a stickysurface on a table or the like in a closed housing comprising, agitatingsaid flock particles to frictionally impart a static charge to theparticles as they pass through a screen above said article, creatingmagnetic field for imparting vibration to the table upon which thearticle is placed whereby the fibers of the flock particles falling fromthe screen will assume a vertical position and one end of such fibersadhere to said article so that said fibers will be in parallelism to oneanother to provide a thick smooth finish on the article.

6. The method of applying flock particles to an article having a stickysurface on a table or the like in a closed housing comprising, agitatingsaid flock particles to frictionally impart a static charge to theparticles as they pass through a screen above said article, creating amagnetic field for imparting vibration to the table upon which thearticle is placed whereby the fibers of the flock particles falling fromthe screen will assume a vertical position and one end of such fibersadhere to said article so that said fibers will be in parallelism to oneanother to provide a thick smooth finish on the article, and returningthe excess flock particles to said housing for reuse.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,659,179 Wilson Feb. 14, 1928 2,217,247 Burns Oct. 8, 1940 2,223,476Amstuz Dec. 3, 1940 2,287,837 Smyser June 30, 1942 2,385,781 Faris etal. Oct. 2, 1945 2,482,183 Rowe et al. June 18, 1946

6. THE METHOD OF APPLYING FLOCK PARTICLES TO AN ARTICLE HAVING A STICKY SURFACE ON A TABLE OR THE LIKE IN A CLOSED HOUSING COMPRISING, AGITATING SAID FLOCK PARTICLES TO FRICTIONALLY IMPART A STATIC CHARGE TO THE PARTICLES AS THEY PASS THROUGH A SCREEN ABOVE SAID ARTICLE, CREATING A MAGNETIC FIELD FOR IMPARTING VIBRATION TO THE TABLE UPON WHICH THE ARTICLE IS PLACED WHEREBY THE FIBERS OF THE FLOCK PARTICLES FALLING FROM THE SCREEN WILL ASSUME A VERTICAL POSITION AND ONE END OF SUCH FIBERS ADHERE TO SAID ARTICLE SO THAT SAID FIBERS WILL BE IN PARALLELISM TO ONE ANOTHER TO PROVIDE A THICK SMOOTH FINISH ON THE ARTICLE, AND RETURNING THE EXCESS FLOCK PARTICLES TO SAID HOUSING FOR REUSE. 